Bobbin



Dec. 28, 1943. R. J. RICKENBACHER BOBBIN Filed May 29, 1940 MOLDABLE MATERIAL FIG. 6

Z2 ORANGE f/VVE/VTOR ROBERT J. RICKENBACHER A r 70 RNEYS a We; Dean 5s bobbins and speaks A end more particularly w e v e 12:1,

mbbm as vlewed ar we end.

.1 igs. efad 5 are invemioz'z devise material of an elevetional views hsbbin made of wound thereon.

bobbin show 'grgvide a bobbin which is yarn or fiber w-aun. tier-eon and partly gg zbing 4 f mgisture, 11 r 1%? away iliuemetmg izhe bobbin having e eeommicei t0 manui a w e liiIig m we mere illustrated ()2 ve" 0 1, a hollew he? 'ses the 23 1i comprises a 5 adapted t9 the member e outer ends v are formed e adapted m e rate/0e the 4a and form- "el-likfi end ret hing The is to 1m raved :12 plastic hevmg as e1" both ends 14 mhiein 1 teeth be engaged 22y bebbin. I ing an imeo shed n.

and names in con HQ and "'"ented together the thread arther, after 1e surface of smooth c0napplied is portiens "as together 8.0111 the mold, '0 Contact the 1x sectional;

wound thereon. When use is made of thermoplastic resins, the parts forming the bobbin may be readily fused together on assembly with or without the use of adhesive or cementitious ma terlal.

The inner surfaces forming the core and side .provided having a substantially non-porous smooth, hard surface and which does not fracture easily.

Preferably heat moldable cellulose acetate and similar moldable plastic compositions are used in making the bobbins; Natural or synthetic moldable materials may be utilized.

Further, if desired, inorcause shrinkage during molding which would result if the heavy sections of the ratchet were located on the circumference of the'two end pieces at a point beyond the periphery of the inside stem or spool portion of the bobbin.

The design of the bobbin is such as to eliminate shrinkage during molding. This is very important, since undue shrinkage brought about due to the design of the bobbin adversely affects the use of the bobbins in the knitting mills. The bobbins may be made in different colors so that a certain quality or type of yarn or fiber may be placed on similar colored spools, thus simplifying the process of operating braiding or knitting machines.

In the improved bobbin of this invention, the knockout pins on the molding die machine are placed so that they will not become engaged with any surface of the bobbin which is to be contacted with thread during the use of the bobbin.

- In the improved method of manufacturing the It wlll be further appreciated that the bobbins illustrated by this invention may be molded in one piece if desired by using a suitable die.

Plastic bobbins made according to this invention are molded so as to have a highly polished,

smooth, substantially non-porous surface for re-' celving the yarn and require no machining operations, The molded bobbins do not absorb grease or oil, which are very detrimental to delicate fibers or rayon yarn. Due to the highly polished smooth surface formed by the molded plastic material, any dirt or grease which may accumulate on the bobbin is easily removed by wiping or washing the bobbin in soap and water. In general, it has been found that yarns used on braiding machines should contain from 12% to 14% moisture in order to operate at the highest efficiency and to avoid breakage of the yarn due to its becoming brittle when the moisture content of the fiber is low.

Bobbins made of wood and the like porous 'material tend to absorb. moisture from the yarn during storage, dissipating it to the atmosphere which renders th yarn brittle. This tendency has been overcome by molding the bobbins from moisture resistant plastic materials as provided by this invention. Further, wooden bobbins when dry tend to split, warp, or crack along the grain, sothat theirlife is relatively short. Aside from thls,'bobbins and spools formed of wood develop 'rough edges during handling which in use snag the yamand damage the finished braid or woven product. This is not encountered by utilizing the molded bobbins of this invention. Further when the molded bobbins become obsolete, they may be used over again by remolding them.

Bobbins made according to this invention are molded with a ratchet on each end which is arranged so that the bobbins can only be rotated in one direction when the same are placed on the loom winding orunwinding mechanism. If preferred, only one end of the bobbin is provided with a ratchet. Preferably, the ratchet part of the bobbin is so situated that it is in line with the interior or stem'part of the bobbin. In this way, the heavy sections of the ratchet do not bobbin of this invention, the knockout pins are arranged to directly contact on the ratchet pieces at the outermost end portions of the spool parts H and I2, as shown at 22 on Figure 1. By this arrangement, any rough spots formed by engagement of the knockout pins with the spool portions of the bobbin during'movement do not in any way affect the eflicient operation of the bobbin. Preferably, the knockout pins are placed in line with the long section of the castings and arranged so that no distortion of the parts results when the knockout pins are moved against the parts of the spool to remove them from the mold.

The ratchet portions of the bobbin ordinarily are used when winding the thread on the bobbin, but when they are used for knitting, in some instances, theknitting machine may be arranged to rotate the bobbin so that the ratchet part of itacts as a brake and rides on an irregular surface whereby each time the ratchet goes over one of the irregular points it engages the next one, preventing the ratchet from turning too fast and takes up any backlash during the knitting operations.

It will be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular details of construction of the bobbin and various-methods of molding or formingthe article of manufacture may be. utilized from the spirit and scope of the claim appended hereto.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: w

As an article of manufacture, a molded hollow bobbin, said bobbin being formed of two pieces telescoped together and united to form a unitary bobbin having a smooth, hard, resilient surface with no perceptible joint for receiving the yarn or fiber, said bobbin being further characterized by having integral ratchet means formed along the inner periphery on at least one end thereof, said ratchet means being provided withsloping cam portions, said sloping cam portions having knock-out pin holes extending axially of the hollow portion of said bobbin.

ROBERT J. RICKENBACHER. 

